Electric switch



Feb. 12 1924.

B. E. GETCHELL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 5 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR elyl'I/mlb E. Ge chell,

' TORNEYS.

Feb. 12 1924. f

B. E. GETCHELL ELECTRIC SWITCH 5, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.

Fig; 3-

INVENTOR E. G Zczell,

Bezgj amm Patented Feb. 12,v 1924. y

UNITED STATES PATENT .oi-Fica BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL, or rLaINvILLn CONNECTICUT, AssIGNoii To THE TEUM- BULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING Coxrm, or rLAINvILLE, CONNECTICUT, .a

CQBPOBATION F CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC s w'ITCn.

Appiieauon meid January s, im. serial No. 526,565.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. GETCH- ELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Plainville, Connecticut, have invented a new and-useful Electric Switch, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to an electric switch. It is an object of the invention to provide novel means for holding a switch in closed circuit position until the opening movement is initiated.

It is a further object to provide novel means for opening a switch with a sna action after the opening movement has en initiated.

i My invention in its preferred form includes a switch having fixed and movable contacts. 'The operating means for the one in one direction, and the` latc bar coacting with the switch operating means serves to hold the switch in closed circuit position until the openin movement of the switch is initiated, after w ich the latch bar urged by the' spring, opens` the switch with asnap action. I have disclosed an illustrative form of my invention in connection with a Com-r mercial type of motor starting switch.

In the drawings: .Fig 1 is a pers ective view of a motor starting switch an illustrating parts of my invention. f

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary partially diagramkmatic sectionalview illustrating the inven- .tion and showing the switch and associated to the atch bar to urge the latter iii one diparts in open circuit position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but taken at right angles to 2.

4 is a view similarto i 2 but showing t tion.

In said drawings', 5 indicates any suitable or desired type of switch box. 6-6 indi- Cate two of a plurality of movable contacts which in the form shown are the usual type of' ivoted switch blades. 7-7 designate fixe contacts for the blades when the latter are in motorA starting osition. 8-8 desinate the fixed contacts or the blades when t e switch is in motor running position.

e switch parts in close vcircuit posif -switch blades 1n closed circuit In the form disclosed, the movable contacts are actuated vby means of a .pivoted crankv 9 operable in the box. .Ainy external handle 10 is connected to the crank 9 in yorder to permit operation of the switch from the outside of the box. A lost motion connection 11 maybe rovided between the movable contacts and t e operating crank as for instance as shown in Sutherland Patent No. 1,271,520.

VThe Connection between the operating handle andthe operating crank Within the box is preferably such that the handle may be movedv to position the blades 6 inthe motor starting position indicated in Fig. 1, and beforethe switch may be moved to motor runningk osition the`handle must be moved backwar slightly, after which the crank may then be actuated to move the switch blades 6 into cont-act with the fixed contacts 8. Thislatter position of the switch is the running position. The connection above described ma be of the type disclosed in the patents to Xhlstrom #1,231,229, or Knudsen #1,364,384, to either or both of which pat-v ents reference is hereby made for a fuller disclosure.

Novel means are provided for holdin the switch in closed circuit osition unti the o ning movement is initiated, after which t e switch is thrown'to o en circuit position with a snap action. n the illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, a latch bar 15 is pivoted to some part, preferably the side of the box 5. In the form disclosed the latch bar has a slot 16 therein provided with an opening 17 to permit easy insertion and removal of the operatin crank 9. A spring 18 is connected rection. In one end of the slot 16 there may be formed a holding shoulder or latch 19 which cooperates with the operating crank 9 to hold the latter and consequently the osition. When theblades are in this closey circuit position, the latch bar and shoulder 19 urged y the stressed spring, serves to clutch or -bind .the operating crank 9 and thus eiectively prevents the accidental opening of the switch. It will be seen that when the handle is moved nha direction to o eig the swiltxh, the arto t eoperating cran engage the shoulder 19, will move and be disengaged from the holding shoulder. During this slight movement to disen age the crank and shoulder, the spring will further stressed. As soon as the crank is disengaged from the shoulder, a surface 20 of the latch bar will act on' the crank 9 and the spring-in` drawing the latch downwardl as viewed 'in the drawings, will cause t e operating crank to be moved to open the s'wltch with a snap action.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position partially diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2, the handle 10 is moved to cause the switch blades 6 to engage the fixed contacts 7. If the connection between the handle and operating crank is such as is disclosed in the patents above referred to, the handle may not be further moved in the* closing direction without lirst movin the handle back slightly. The position o the parts in Fig. 1 is the motor starting position in which the fuses shown therein are not in circuit. If now the handle be moved back slightly, the handle may be again moved in the closingdirection to cause the switch blade 6 to engage the contacts 8. The fuses will then be 1n circuit and the switch in the motor running position. crank and the latch bar in the motor runningposition is disclosed in Fig. 4.

It will be clear that during the movement ofthe crank 9 from the o en circuit position shown in Fig. 2 to t e closed circuit position shown in Fig. 4, the crank will slide along the surface 20 and in raising the latch bar the spring 18 will be stressed. When the crank is engaged behind the shoulder 19 the switch blades and crank will be firmly held in the closed circuit position until the opening movement of the crank is initiated.

When it is desired to open the switch, the handle 10 is drawn back so as to cause the operating crank 9 to be disengaged from the shoulder 19, after which the surface 20 of the bar will act under the influence of the spring 18 so as to open the switch with a snap action.

In`the construction shown, the same spring which moves the switch also cooperates with the latching means to securely hold the switch in the on osition.

While I have isclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, and have shown the same in connection with a commercial type of enclosed motor starting switch, I wish it understood that various changes may be niade within the scope of the appended claims and that the invention may be used in connection with other types of switches.

I claim: i

1. In an electric switch, fixed and movable contacts, means for moving said movable contact, a pivoted latch bar coacting The position of the operating' with said means, a spring at all times ur n said latch bar in the same direction to ol the movable contact in closed circuit position until the opening movement of the movable contact is initiated, and to then move the movable contact to open circuit position withy a snap action.

2. In an enclosed switch, a switch box, fixed and movable contacts in said box, an operating crank journaled in said box for moving said movable contacts, a latch bar pivoted in said box and coacting with said operating crank to hold the switch contacts in closed position, `a spring at all times urging said latch in the same direction, said latch having a surface coactin with said operating crank for movin t e movable contacts to open circuit position after the opening movement has been initiated. v

3. In an electric switch, fixed and movable contacts, means for moving the movable Contact, a latch bar ooacting with said meansa spring at all times urgi said latch ar in the same direction, sai latch bar havinor a holding shoulder coacting with said switch operating means for holding the movable contacts in closed circuit position, and saidlatch bar having a surface coacting With the switch actuating means for moving the movable contact to open circuit position with a snap action after the opening movement has been initiated,

4. In an electric switch, a movable switch blade and fixed contact, blade operat' means for movin the blade, a pivoted latc bar having a` holding shoulder and 'a cam` surface thereon, a spring at all times urging said latch bar in the same direction, said holding shoulder serving to hold said blade operating means in position 'to hold the switch blade in closed circuit sition until the opening movement of the b ade actuating means is initiated, Said cam surface lthereafter serving to move the blade to open circuit position with a snap action.

5. In an electric Switch, fixed and movable contacts, an operating crank for moving said movable contact, a pivot/ed latch bar having a cam surface engaging the operating crank, a spring at all tlmes urging said. latch bar in the same direction, said latch bar serving to hold the operating crank in the closed cir- Cuit position until the opening movement of the switch is initiated, after which said cam surface throws the crank to open circuit position with a snap action.

6. In an electric switch, fixed and movable contacts, an operating crank for said movable contact, a pivoted latch bar havin an open sided slot therein, said latch bar aving a holding shoulder at one end of the slot, a spring at all times urging said latch bar in the same direction` said operating .crank being normally positioned in said slot, said shoulder serving to hold the operable contact, a pivoted latch bar having a slot therein, said latch bar having a holding shoulder at'one end of the slot and a hook portion at the other end of the slot, said operating crank extending through Said slot,

and a spring for said latch to hold said shoulder in engagement with the crank and maintain the latter at one end of its path of movement until disengaged froml said shoulder and thereafter to move said crank towards the other end of said path.

8. In an electric switch, fixed and movable contacts, an operating crank for said movable contact, a pivoted latch bar having a slot therein, said latch bar having a holding shoulder at one end of the slot and a hook portionvat the other end of the slot, said operating crank extending through said slot, and a spring for said latch to hold said shoulder in engagement with the crank and maintain the latter at.,k one end of its path of movement until disengaged from said shoulder and thereafter to move said crank towards the other end of 'said path, said hook portion engaging the crank to limit said latter movement..

9. In an electric switch` a number of fixed contacts, a post, a movable contact pivoted thereto and adapted tocooperate with one or more of said fixed contacts, a crank to operate said movable contact, a pivoted latch bar having a slot through which said crank extends, said slot having a notch providing a shoulder to engage said crank when the switch is closed, and a spring fastened tor said latch bar and to a point outside the zone between the post and any `fixed contact, said spring actuating the latch. bar to hold the switch in closed circuit position until the crank is moved beyond said shoulder and thereafter opening the switch with a snap action.

l0. In an electric switch, a movable switch blade and fixed contact, means for moving the blade, a pivoted latch bar having a holding shoulder and a cam surface thereon, and a spring to actuate said latch bar` said holding shoulder and spring serving to hold the blade in closed circuit position until Opening movement of the blade, is initiated, and said cam surface thereafter serving to move the blade to open circuit position with a snap action and to limit the extent o opening movement of the blade.

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL. 

